Buying a new knuckle boom crane truck

[Themadd1]

So I am looking into purchasing a knuckle boom crane truck so we can load those 10' logs onto a truck and not break our backs anymore. I have been looking at getting a Ford F750 with a 40' horizontal reach IMT crane that will max at 2050#.

Anyone out there have a knuckle boom truck and if so what do you like about it. I am thinking of getting the radio controller and also not getting the hydraulic out - outriggers. It seems like it would be easy to push and pull the out and down outriggers in and out.

Any thoughts or recommendations would be appreciated.

Themadd1

 

[John464]

.

Any thoughts or recommendations would be appreciated.

Themadd1

What are you going to do when you need to drive on someone's nice lawn or get in a back yard? Do you have a skid loader?

 

[ASD]

what life do you get out of the turf tracks ???

 

[jerseywild]

What brand tracks are you running?

 

[John464]

what life do you get out of the turf tracks ???

a peaceful life since my customers arent screaming on the phone when they return home from work.

oh you you mean the life of the tracks. They are warranteed for 1,000hrs. Dont know how long they will last past that, since I havent gotten anywhere near that many hrs yet and will probably trade the machine in before 1,000hrs. they are the ultimate track system for turf.

 

[John464]

What brand tracks are you running?

factory ASV tracks

 

[Themadd1]

I already have that type of heavy equipment. I want a knuckle so two guys can go out as a crew, no more no less. I have worked with them in the past and you dont have the setup tear down time you have with a skid loader, bobcat, etc. In the city there is limited parking as well. I dont need an extra trailer when I can have a chiptruck chipper, and knuckle boom truck with a 12 foot bed. Short, strong, and sweet. Not for all jobs just for the special removals. I can also use the truck to move smaller equipment, lift my spray rig on and off the truck, etc. It is just a useful piece of equipment to have around.

 

[Themadd1]

One other thing about skid steers is that they do damage lawns. Unless you are working on a large property with plenty of room for turning.

I think the tracks like you have a better for keeping the machinery from getting stuck vs. less lawn damage. Wheels spin, tracks dont lose traction.

Small cranes are nice for removals up on walls, or where fences are in the way. For those removals that are just out of reach and can use a small crane.

The other beautiful things is that you dont need to have a CDL or crane operator license to run the equipment. Just training on how much weight you have and at what distance/angle. As well as how to operate the hydraulics, etc. All around a skid steer like yours is not the best option for the urban environment.

 

[John464]

I agree a knuckleboom truck is nice, but the first step is a skid loader. I can go to just about everywhere the wood is at vs a knuckleboom is very limited within the residential. You can pick 2,050lbs with having to reach out for it and I can pick 3,900lbs with going right to it. I can pick up the same logs you can with a knuckleboom and a nicely equipped skid loader can be had for under 40k. A new knuckleboom is about 100-150k. Just doesn't make business sense to me, im sure your market is different than ours. I have only saw a need to buy one for my lot clearing jobs where I could pull the truck right to the wood, just depends on how often you get than opportunity.

As for the sake of not pulling a trailer, we just bought a bigger trailer that hauls the self propelled stump machine and the skid loader. We take the stump machine to just about all of our removals anyhow, so we were always pulling a trailor anyhow, only difference is now its a longer trailer that hold both machines.

check this link. I think you will be suprised to see a skid loader do the opposite of what you said http://www.asvi.com/media/turfedition.asf

 

[Themadd1]

Like I said earlier but might not have made clear I have a skid loader. I use it for my land clearing, hardscape installations, on the tree farm, etc.

My point of the this thread was not to compare apples to oranges. I want to get advise from people who own knuckleboom trucks on their likes and dislikes.

I am glad you really like the skidsteer but it still does not work in fenced in back yards with little access. The right equipment for the right job. If you dont have the equipment you have to work harder and longer.

 

[John464]

You said in your original post you wanted an opinion, only reason I provided one.
My apologies for thinking loading wood and saving your back doesn't matter how it gets there long as it is in 12ft lengths and in the truck. The quickness, and the more regular this gets accomplished, and the expense it creates are what matters to me most.

Good luck in your decision.

 

[treeslayer666]

knuckle boom / chip truck

This is an IMT knuckleboom. They work nice. These pics are just before I sold it and built a small rearmount log truck. The only downside is slinging everything & taking the lid off & putting it back on. Belive me its a pain in the a**, but sure beats loading by hand. It worked well for me for 4 or 5 years until I could upgrade.

 

[arbor pro]

I used a 1983 F800 with an 18' dump bed and 35' Hiab knuckleboom for a number of years before scaling down my business (I'm just part-time). I sold the truck a couple of years ago and bought a mini skid and dump trailer in its place but only because I no longer do large removals - mostly pruning and small removals now.

What I really liked about the knuckleboom:

1) Craning tree sections away from structures, over fences, over yards, etc in places where a skid steer simply couldn't get without removing fences or driving over vegetation.
2) loading brush and crushing it down with the crane laid straight across the length of the bed. I could really stack it on this way. I would then load logs on top and lay the crane flat across the entire load to secure it. (Hint - one thing I did to load brush was to stack it in piles on top of 25' tow straps, then loop one end through the other and lift it onto the truck with the crane. The weight of all the branches together would draw the strap tight and tighten all of the brush together into a nice tight bundle for loading. If I did this right, I could get about 4 big bundles of brush onto one load.
3) Very quick and simple setup. Also worked great for pulling over trees using the winch (YOU DEFINITELY WANT A HYDRAULIC WINCH AND HOOK!)

Drawbacks to a knuckleboom:
1) As stated by other listers - much slower than a skidsteer for cleanup in areas where a skidsteer can access. A mini skid taking out smaller chunks will still be faster than a small/mid-size knuckleboom when it comes to cleanup.
2) One more piece of equipment to maintain - especially hydraulics

That all said, it was a very good investment for me and I hated to sell mine but, I just had too many toys to maintain as a one-man part-time operation.

By the way, I sold mine in pretty good condition for $13,000. I see them from time to time in the central US for around $20k.

 

[Themadd1]

Thanks for the info. I am looking at 105,000.00 for a new unit. I dont mind the costs and I think it will come in handy around the shop and in the field. I am contemplating a truck with removable sides with 2x4 steel bunks and a removable top. I can leave the top/sides at the shop for logs and then use the truck as a second chip box when the removals are slow.

 

[Gerasimek]

Here, I think, is the information you are looking for.
I operate a 3-man crew in western PA. 95% of my work is residential. I need to get in and out quickly without disturbing my customers' lawns.
Here's my setup. I have a 33KGVW GMC 7500 cabover with an 090 Hiab wireless remote knuckleboom followed by a 12' dump with a 'slide-back' mesh tarp.
I tow my 1800 vermeer chipper (with winch) with this truck, chip all the brush into it, and, if I have room, slide back the tarp and load the logs on top of the chips. If I don't have room, I take a break and dump the chips while my guys are raking up and removing the stump, return, and load up the logs.
Is the unit big and heavy? Of course. Do I need a CDL? Certainly. Can I load up tons of material in minutes? You bet.
I forgot to mention that I have a Kinshofer grapple with a quick attach system mounted on a retractable drawer(custom) under the bed. A grapple is a must.
How do I get the tree to the truck and chipper if it's too wet? I have a bobcatMT55 miniloader with a grapple.
My business is the result of 43 years of innovation and refinement to deal with the challenges that I face everyday.
My dad was always looking for safer, faster, and easier ways of getting the work done.
Is it expensive? Very much so. If it's your livelihood, it's worth it. Don't you agree. The bank will give you the money. Nobody can give you a new back.
If you post your e-mail, I could send you a picture.
Bottom line-Get it. Get wireless. Get a grapple. If you don't, you'll kick yourself when your competitor does.
Glenn Gerasimek

 

[John464]

How do I get the tree to the truck and chipper if it's too wet? I have a bobcatMT55 miniloader with a grapple.

so you take your mini skid to the truck and because it cant reach over the sides of the dump truck you drop the wood in a pile next to the grapple truck. Why not get a stronger skid that can lift 3 times what a mini can and reach right over the dump body? picking up wood twice? why?

 

[joesawer]

So I am looking into purchasing a knuckle boom crane truck so we can load those 10' logs onto a truck and not break our backs anymore. I have been looking at getting a Ford F750 with a 40' horizontal reach IMT crane that will max at 2050#.

Anyone out there have a knuckle boom truck and if so what do you like about it. I am thinking of getting the radio controller and also not getting the hydraulic out - outriggers. It seems like it would be easy to push and pull the out and down outriggers in and out.

Any thoughts or recommendations would be appreciated.

Themadd1

On a boom that big, the out riggers would be extreamly heavy to handle by hand. Also you need to be able to use the outriggers to help level the mast, which means tilting the whole truck, virtually impossible with out hydraulic outriggers.

 

[Gerasimek]

John464,
I do have a track loader as well but, Themadd1 mentioned limited access areas so, I mentioned the mini.
I'm not sure why you replied to my reply to Themadd1.
I do like your smooth tracks, though. Pretty cool.
Gerasimek

 

[John464]

Gerasimek,

Sounds like a well balanced operation. Nice. I dont know why the qouted reply came up as themadd1.

BTW welcome to the site!

 

[Gerasimek]

Picture of my big unit. LOL.

Hopefully, I attached the photo properly. Check it out.
Here are some details that might further help you in your decision.
This Hiab 090 has 4 extensions that will reach out to 36' which is great for picking up logs and brush piles that are fenced into backyards. I can also load several trucks from one spot.
The wireless option enables us to operate from any vantage point. You're not limited to standing next to one side of your truck. The wireless is also great for storm damage as it can be used from the bucket when lifting trees from rooftops.
The wireless remote also has a sweet option of switching the hydraulic flow from 100%, 50%, and 20%. This is great for the really delicate moves like working near big plate glass windows, setting trusses, or anywhere you can't afford to make a mistake on the controls. It's really smooth.
The Hiab is also very light compared to domestic cranes. It's made of high tensile steel.
The 090 can lift about 9000lbs right next to the truck and ,I think, 1800lbs at full extension. It has a built in safety mechanism that will prevent you from picking up too much weight and destroying itself and your truck.
All in all, it's been a workhorse and timesaver for me.
Gerasimek